Category: General

Agriculture stakeholders in the coast region have urged the government to prioritise the production of coconut across all six coastal counties, citing its potential to significantly improve the economy of not only the coast but the whole country.

Speaking during the National Coconut Week conference in Kilifi on Thursday, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation Industrial Crops Research Institute Director Dr. Finyange Pole stated that the coconut plant is very important to the coast region’s economy, but it has not been given the level of attention that it deserves.

He highlighted that other countries’ economies are greatly benefiting from giving priority to the production of coconuts and their by-products.

‘Asian countries have developed significantly because of this coconut plant. Among the products of coconut is bio-diesel, and countries like Vietnam use this by-product to move their economies ahead,’ Dr. Pole said.

He added that according to the 2012 census, the coast region had 10 milli
on coconut crops that produced 260 million coconuts, which, in his view, were too few as compared to countries like India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka that produce coconuts in higher quantities.

Dr. Pole disclosed that among the challenges facing the coconut industry in Kenya is the use of poor quality seeds, which yield very little produce.

‘In Kenya, we have only two varieties: the East African Tall and the East African Dwarf, and their produce is very little. When well managed, you can harvest around 80 to 100 coconuts in a year, which is not enough to meet our economic needs,’ he explained.

Secretary of the Crop Production Department, Rashid Khator, said that planting more coconut plants along the coast will help the government achieve its poverty alleviation agenda among local farmers.

‘The government has a plan to remove the poverty mentality among farmers, and that is why we have organised this National Coconut Week conference to sensitise farmers on better coconut farming practices so that we can inc
rease its production in the coast region,’ Khator explained.

He urged farmers to take advantage of the rainy season to plant many coconut seedlings so that, after 2 to 3 years, they can begin to enjoy benefits.

Agricultural Consultant Baha Nguma stated that coconut farming is the backbone of the coast region’s economy, but its potential to improve the country’s economy has not been utilised.

He underscored the need for the government to invest more in coconut farming in order for Kenyans to reap more benefits from the crop.

‘There is a need for us to invest more in coconut farming to maximise the benefits. In my opinion, the government should aim at distributing 1 million coconut seedlings to farmers every year,’ Nguma stated.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A 35-year-old farmer was arrested for murder at about 02h00 on Sunday at Graswerd farm in Dordabis.

In a weekend crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force, it is alleged that the suspect went to the 42-year-old victim’s room and accused him of bewitching him (the suspect).

‘It is further alleged that the suspect hit the victim with an iron bar on the head which resulted in the victim to fall down. The suspect allegedly grabbed another iron bar and brick and repeatedly hit the victim on the head until he died. The suspect allegedly tried to flee but was caught by other farm workers who called the police.’

The deceased was identified as Paulus Ndjamba and his next of kin have been informed.

Meanwhile, Jonas Tuhafeni Neonya, a member of the police’s Serious Crime Investigation Sub-Division died in a car accident on Saturday. It is alleged that Neonya was driving a silver Corolla Conquest on the main road between Okahao and Tsandi when he lost control over the vehicle, causing it to overturn. The incid
ent happened at about 21h50 at Ondelishana village in the Omusati Region.

Neonya was rushed to the Okahao State Hospital, where he was declared dead. His next of kin are informed.

In another case, a 24-year-old man was arrested on charges of kidnapping, rape and assault by threatening of a 27-year-old woman in Karibib. The incident allegedly occurred at 01h00 on Friday, about 1km from Karibib town towards the Navachab gold mine.

‘It is alleged that the suspect and the victim had met for the first time the same day at 11h00 and exchanged cellphone numbers. Later at about 22h00, the suspect phoned the victim and met at a service station where the victim entered the suspect’s car and they drove away. The suspect allegedly had sexual intercourse with the victim without consent and threatened to kill her.’

Police investigations continue in all cases.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Kenya National Union of Teachers officials have called on the government to end banditry in the North Rift region to allow schools to reopen.

The First National Vice Chairman, Malel Langat, said the Government should consider changing its approach towards ending banditry in the region.

Langat said children and teachers were out of school after being forced out by attacks from bandits, saying years of unyielding fight against the bandits call for a new approach that would bring a lasting solution.

He said the deaths of military officers, including the Chief of Defense Forces, was a turning point in dealing with banditry in the region.

He said the soldiers were on a noble mission of inspecting schools that were to be renovated before they met their deaths, and that this calls for rethinking by the government on the best ways to end the menace.

‘Too many lives have been lost over the years, and yet we continue to use the same approach. With the kind of attacks we have witnessed in the recent past, what
is the fate of schools that have been closed, and where are the learners and teachers supposed to operate from?’ he said.

Langat called for beefing up security by using local solutions to restore order.

Bomet Executive Secretary Desmond Langat said the reconstruction of those schools and strengthening of security should begin immediately.

Langat said this should be done in order to allow children to resume learning with the rest of their counterparts nationwide as schools are set to reopen early in May.

He said the banditry has led to rampant school dropouts, with the children joining banditry as a result.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Gor Mahia claimed a 1-0 victory over the AFC Leopards in their Mashemeji Derby clash on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Nyayo Stadium.

The decisive moment arrived in the 30th minute when Austin Odhiambo, capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot the ball home, giving Gor Mahia the lead.

Despite a setback in the 35th minute when goalkeeper Kevin Omondi, was shown a red card, reducing them to 10 men, Gor Mahia held on to secure all three points.

Meanwhile, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Tusker FC clinched a narrow 1-0 win over Ulinzi Stars, courtesy of an Eric Kapaito strike in the 49th minute.

In other matches, Kenya Police kept pace with league leaders Gor Mahia, by securing a 2-1 win against Sofapaka, while Bidco United and Kariobangi Sharks also emerged triumphant in their respective fixtures against Posta Rangers and Nzoia Sugar.

With this victory, Gor Mahia maintains their pole position in the standings with 57 points. They are followed by Kenya Police and Tusker at 48 and 46 points, respectively.

Other re
sults for the FKF Premier League round 27 are Kenya Police 2-1 Sofapaka, Kariobangi Sharks 3-0 Nzoia Sugar, Bidco United 1-0 Posta Rangers, Shabana 0-0 Kakamega Homeboyz, Bandari 0-0 KCB FC, FC Talanta 0-3 Nairobi City Stars, and Murang’a Seal 0-0 Muhoroni Youth.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) has been named the top winner of the Wage Bill Accountability Award as a State Corporation.

The IRA was recognised for the award by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) during its third National Wage Bill Conference held in Nairobi. The award was presented to the IRA’s Commissioner of Insurance and Chief Executive Officer, Godfrey Kiptum, by President William Ruto at its third national wage bill conference.

Mr. Kiptum said IRA was awarded for maintaining the ratio of personnel emolument Vis a Vis the revenue below 35 per cent in the last three years and for its consistency in maintaining the ratio during the entire period.

He said during the period, IRA was recognised for receiving unqualified opinions from the Office of the Auditor General for the last three years.

‘Another factor that SRC took into consideration was the productivity mainstreaming measures in government agencies, a requirement that IRA met,’ added the CEO.

The Insurance Regulatory Autho
rity is a statutory government agency established under the Insurance Act, CAP 487 of the Laws of Kenya, to regulate, supervise, and develop the insurance industry.

During the event, Salaries and Remuneration Commission Chairperson Lyn Mengich said that the public wage bill has consistently remained above the 35 per cent to revenue ratio and continues to be physically unsustainable, thus shrinking the resources available for development and the government’s priority agenda.

Mengich said Kenya is a resource-scarce country where the expenditures of the public wage Bill, government operations, maintenance development, and international commitment compete for the limited resources that are generated in the country as revenue.

She said that it is important to apply the management of the wage bill, which requires a multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary, and whole-government approach.

The primary outcome expected from the conference is the commitment to reduce the public Wage Bill to 35 per cent of revenue in line
with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act of the year 2020-2012, with a target to achieve that by 2028.

Source: Kenya News Agency

S.A.F.E Maa launched a film with the aim of ending retrogressive vices including Female Genital Cutting (FGC), Teenage Pregnancies, and early Marriages in Loita, Narok South Sub County.

While speaking at Loita High School in Narok County during the launch of the new film called ‘Sarah’, Sara Tenoi, a Project Manager, said the film will help in ending the cut among the young girls in the community of Loita and even in the entire county of Narok.

Tenoi thanked the partners for coming together to fight these retrogressive vices in the community so that the Maasai girls can also get their rights in society.

The Assistant County Commissioner of Loita Division, Boniface Mwenda, said that FGC and early marriages are still dragging the Loita community behind, adding that the filming methodology will act as an entry point to fight against the vices.

The ACC added that the film will be introduced in schools so that it will help to educate the young learners and the community within Loita on the negative effects of
the retrogressive vices to be able to end FGC.

‘Loita is known for its FGC practices, and by using such filming methodologies to fight against these retrogressive vices, we hope to introduce them in schools within Loita to educate young learners, and through this, the percentages will soon come down,’ Mweda added.

Further, the ACC urged the council of elders in Loita and National Government Administration Officers to use film methodology as an entry point to fight against the cut in the community, hoping that the cut will reduce in percentages in the near future.

Alice Cooden, who works for S.A.F.E Kenya, said the filming aims to facilitate the ending of the FGC in Loita and in the entirety of Narok County.

Cooden said S.A.F.E Kenya helps the community educate young girls to help them complete their education so as to avoid early marriages.

The National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Narok County Coordinator, Joyce Musere, thanked the Loita community for accepting the filming methodology in order to
fight against FGC among the young girls.

‘Let’s give our young girls time to grow, receive education, and also enjoy their rights in society,’ Musere added.

Source: Kenya News Agency